Empty Bowl Thank You

While we had hoped to be all together again for this year’s Empty Bowl lunch, you helped make history with the 2021 Virtual Empty Bowl by helping us exceed our ONE MILLION MEAL GOAL. In fact, because of YOU, we will be able to provide 1,225,329 meals to those struggling with hunger throughout Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Dawson and Forsyth counties. Once again, you have amazed us with your generosity and compassion.

This year’s luncheon focused on the collaborative efforts of this community to work together to feed those children, seniors and families who are facing food insecurity right here in our area. Because of your support of GMFB, we were able to meet the overwhelming need with overwhelming love. Your donations, volunteer efforts and collaborative partnerships have helped us reach more people than ever before, and because of you, we were able to join in Growing the Love to the thousands of neighbors in need in our five-county service area, serving an estimated 59 million meals since 2008.

If you missed the Virtual Empty Bowl, please check out the program video from our virtual broadcast and check back in for ways to help in the coming months!

As usual, the program also featured the presentation of “The Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart” award in memory of philanthropist and friend of GMFB, Mike Banks of Gainesville. This legacy award is a part of Empty Bowl each year and is given to an individual whose contributions to GMFB truly reflect “the heart of a giver” in the same way that Mike Banks lived his life. This year’s recipient of “The Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart” award was Jim Syfan.

“Jim and his company Syfan Logistics are always willing to go above and beyond for the Food Bank,” stated Joy Banks, daughter of Mike Banks, when she presented the award to Jim. “When transportation or logistics needs arise, they are quick to lend a hand. Jim is well-respected in this community for his philanthropic spirit, his integrity, commitment to excellence, and commitment to people.”

Syfan Logisticsreceived the newly namedJim Walters Corporate Volunteer of the Yearaward, eponymously named after Jim Walters, following his passing last year as well. Greg Syfan was on hand to accept the award on behalf of Syfan Logistics. Wayne Mulkey, the Food Bank’s very first volunteer when it was originally founded, received the newly named Phillip Bond Sartain Individual Volunteer of the Year award, named after the Gainesville attorney and supporter of GMFB, Phillip Sartain, who passed away last year. The award was presented by Phillip Sartain’s daughter, Carey Sartain Poydasheff.